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An innovative new steering device that could
help prevent hazards like rear-end collisions and rollovers caused by
panic over-steering has been developed. It can take up to two and a
half turns to steer a modern vehicle. While turning, the driver must
release the wheel in the necessary hand-over-hand movement, which is
unsafe. In the upcoming Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
2013 Annual Meeting, Rene Guerster will propose an alternative steering
device that could help to prevent hazards such as rear-end collisions
and rollovers caused by panic over-steering. Severe sudden turns are
extremely difficult with today's steering systems, researchers said.
Developing what he terms "computer-mediated steering," Guerster believes
his proposed technology, already common in engine controls, would
enable steering around a suddenly-appearing obstacle without
hand-over-hand fumbling. Guerster's yoke-like device, currently in the
concept stage, requires only a quarter turn in either direction from the
straight-ahead position, enabling the driver to keep his or her hands
in the same position on the device at all times. A computer would
record the degree to which the device is turned, the speed at which it
is being turned, and the vehicle speed. It would determine how far the
front wheels should be turned and then turn them via an electric motor,
whether the driver is parallel parking, performing a gentle lane-change
manoeuvre at high speed, or turning suddenly to avoid a pedestrian.
"The likelihood of intuitive, safe use of this device will be studied in
experiments to be conducted in the future. If computer-mediated
steering shows benefits, this is easy to engineer into modern vehicles,"
Guerster said.

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